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Milo at 7 weeks

About Me

I thought it was time I updated this a bit as it was way back ing 2011 when I first started my blog and crafting.
Married to Alistair for now for almost 22 years, who puts up with my ever expanding craft area.
I have 1 lovely son and daughter in law, and various grandpets.
I am never seen without some kind of knitting going on and if not that, it's cardmaking. I have recently started trying my hand at mixed media and sewing.
I sing with the Inverness Choral Society, which I love.
I also love where I live, the Highlands of Scotland.
Oh, and I love Autumn, it's my favourite season with all the fantastic shades of brown and gold, the crispness of the air, and the cosy nights indoors.
And the best bit ever.. is that I'm now lucky enough to be RETIRED!!

Sunday, 29 November 2015

Hello Everyone and I hope you are all well and enjoying your weekend. I hope you weather is better than ours, gosh it's rained well today.Time once again for the ladies of the Christmas Card Club to share their cards and this time it cards showing Holly and Ivy. Now I'm not sure whose choice this was, can't find a name on the list, but anyway here is mine;

This is a very Hunkydorry Topper with Holly and Ivy around the door and on the wreath.The background card and sentiment are also from Hunkydory.I've added some Holly Leaves cut with a Di'Sire die and I used green sparkly felt, doesn't show though and put a little robin on a tree branch, also from Di'sire. A little glitter and a couple of gems and that's that. A very traditional image and colours.I'm going to schedule this post for tomorrow when the CCC goes live.

Do have a look at what the other club members do, there is always beautiful cards from them.

So just before I go, I want to thank everyone who visited and left a comment, I love to get them and always enjoy reading them.

Friday, 27 November 2015

Hello to You All, I hope all is well and good with you today.Can hardly believe it is once again Friday, and it's dull and wet one here, a bit of a Black Friday weather wise. And speaking of which, did you know that the origins of this particular day goes back to the slave trade where the slaves were sold at discount prices, so in my opinion, it makes it a very "Black" day indeed. anyway, off my moral soapbox now and on to my Oldie card, thought I didn't have one looked out but had one left;

I remember that this was a commissioned card and it's all Hunkydory, it was for a Diamond Anniversary.Friday Oldie was started by Erika of Snappy Crafts and you can find her blog here.Erika would like you to share anything that you've handmade at an earlier stage in your crafting career, it could be card making, knitting, sewing, etc. It's good to see how your crafting has changed or developed over the time and it's just for fun, so why not join in and share your makes.I want to thank everyone who left a comment on my knitted projects, I very much appreciated your kind comments. That's me for now, I'm still trying to catch up with housework, especially the washing, with having the kitchen out of commission, and of course now it's raining, we are like a wash house here.Have a good day and I will be back at the weekend with my card for the CCC, take care everyone,

Tuesday, 24 November 2015

Good Evening Everyone, and finally getting some time to get into Blogland.I hope you are all well, and coping with the fast approaching Winter, it's really woollie warmer weather now.Well, it's been a hectic few days here, what with getting our kitchen done and the concert, I'm tuckered out, but thankfully getting back to normal, whatever that may be, now. Our new cooker is being delivered tomorrow and I'm excited about that, not that I'm planning wonderful meals, I try to limit my cooking these days, but I just hated the old cooker which was in the house when we move here. The grill was in the oven and that was just pants.

Then there was the concert, which was brilliant, and well received, so a lot of hard work paid off, but thankfully, we won't be doing that piece again for a while. Gearing up now for our Carolthon in December and this time around the charity we are collecting for is the Children's Hospice, so I hope we do well for that. The Carolthon is a big sing throughout the day on Saturday 19th, and it's all Christmas Carols, easy peasy after the African Sanctus. So for all you Inverness folks, if you can come along to the Eastgate centre and you will here us sing. Of course if you want to come through, come across, or come up, you would be more than welcome.Now for my colour work;

A pair of cosy socks for a friend, who now has them and getting some wear, with a few rows of colour work, my first time ever giving this a try and I have to say after having taken the cuff back about nine times I finally got the hang of it, I was knitting the selvage stitches into the pattern, silly me. So having been successful with these, I decided on this;

Arne & Carlos Bauble

A free kit in a knitting magazine, made in the round, isn't it pretty, and so easy, I hope to make some more of them. The most difficult bit was stuffing it, and I can see I've not got it completely spherical.I love these little projects, Alistair hinted about a Fair Isle jumper, fell on deaf ears though.Thank you so much for all your lovely comments on my last card, very kind of you to take the time to visit me.Time to put my feet up now, hope you're doing the same,

Friday, 20 November 2015

Hello Everyone, and hope all is going well with you today, me......well I'm running around like a headless chicken, just taking a bit of time to do this post, because there is so much to do in preparation for tomorrows concert, and if that wasn't enough, we are having a new worktop and cupboard doors put in to the kitchen. The young chap along the road is doing it and, and he has to work in along with his wife's shifts as they three little ones, and of course it's sods law that it's happening the same day as the concert. How on earth did I manage when I was working, this is something I constantly ask myself.Anyway enough of that as I'm here with my Friday Oldie, all started by Erika of Snappy Crafts and you can find her blog here, to show a handcrafted make that you had made at an earlier time in your crafting journey, it's just for fun and it can be anything not just cards, some folk have put on the most beautiful knitting, embroidery, it's just whatever;

I was asked to make a Mother's Day card for a friend and I used LC images, can't really remember what else is in the recipe, but I would think that it's coloured with Promarkers. LC have the most beautiful images.So that is all from me today, I hope I will be able to get around some of the blogs, but forgive if you don't see a comment from me this weekend.Oh, and before I forget, thanks for all your lovely comments, have a lovely weekend yourselves, whatever you're doing,

Tuesday, 17 November 2015

Well here I am again, so Good Evening to You All, I hope you are well and getting ready for Barney....Barney I ask you, wonder who thought up that we now give our storms/gales a name?Anyway I think we might miss it up here.I have to report good behaviour last night at the rehearsal, that could be because Gordon concentrated on the Sanctus and there was no time to rehearse the other piece, just have to wing it.

I met a former colleague today and learnt that one of my former clients whom I was very fond of has died. She was only in very early 30s, but had such a crap child hood with sexual abuse that it manifested itself with her self harming, really badly that she had septicaemia. However, it's not known if it's the infection or cutting that has caused her death. We as a team know she wouldn't make old bones, but I have to say I was shocked to my foundations when told. She was a lovely young woman, had a degree in Law, but was too damaged to function at top level. She would come to my craft group, and she was amazing at cross stitch. I just feel so sad that she had no life to speak of, poor lass.

I had a day to myself whilst hubby took to the hills, he was beginning to have cabin fever, so I was having a play at boxes again;

I saw this tall box design on Christine Griffith's blog the other day and and thought it was just so lovely, at least hers was. She used a SW striplet die, and so I thought I would use the only one I had which is a floral one, a very pretty one, but could I get it to cut....could I ding, and believe me I tried every which way. So, thinking that this crafting lark is about fun, I thought I'd make a cuppa and have a think about it. With a coffee and a digestive biscuit slathered in butter and Teallach beside me having some of his Dreamies, I pondered on this dilemma about me and these dies that will not cut for me. Then, it was like a light bulb moment, I suddenly knew what to do....BIN THE BUGGER!!, no more stress, so I ended up using an Xcut die and it cut through the card like butter.Added Hunkydorry snowy acetate and decorated with MB snowflake border and Di'Sire Bell die which I coloured with WOS. Wrapped up some tea lights and put them in the box.Little box is made with an Xcut box die which was half price at one of my local craft shops, and very easy to put together, I decorated with a Sara Davis Snowflake die. Not sure what I'll put in it, maybe chocolates.Thank you all for your lovely comments on yesterday's card, I always look forward to reading them.Well that's the footy on, have to find something on iPlayer to watch, have a lovely evening whatever your doing and see you soon,

Monday, 16 November 2015

Hello Everyone, hope you are well and not getting drenched and blown away, weather here is just pants.I have to go out later as it's my Choral rehearsal and the last one before our concert on Saturday, I can hardly believe it's suddenly here. I think that this time around there are very few of us feeling confident about one of the pieces, Missa Criolla, which is sung in South American Latin and I for one can't get my tongue around the words, and the music score is so difficult to read I loose the plot at times. To make matters worse not everyone has the same music book, there are two editions and both folk on either side of me has a different one to mine.My buddy Fiona, all but collapsed in laughter last week when we both lost the place, flicking back and forwards to find the right bit, but of course everyone else signing on and leaving us behind, but then cam a bit of La La' ing that we could join back in, so we gave that laldy, only to realise afterwards that it wasn't so much of a La La, but a Lar La Lar..... we had left our rs out. Mind you I've always had trouble with my rs....lol. Of course by this time we are almost helpless, which infected those close by and I'm afraid that we got stern looks from Gordon our conductor, that made us worse. Note to self, DO NOT LOOK AT FIONA!!, when plot is lost.I'm sure it will be all right on the night.Now just to say thank you so much for all the lovely comments on my last card, and to give a warm welcome to Amanda for hitting my Follow button, think she is getting the hang of it now.Here is my latest efforts;

I wanted to have a go at one of these cards for ages, so found a tutorial on Christine Griffiths blog, obviously it's not perfect, you know me and measuring, but it's not too bad I made a box as it wouldn't go into an envelope,

And this is the inside, sorry a bit blurred.Papermania Paper, Centura Gold Card, XCut nesting dies, Di'sire sentiment die, WO Poinsettia,SB and CC Poinsettias dies, XCut sentiment on box, a bit of ribbon for the bow Oh yes.. Aldi for the tea lights, Apple and Cinnamon.Have a lovely evening and be round to see you soon,

Sunday, 15 November 2015

Hello to You All, and I hope your weekend is going well, whatever you are doing.Thank you so much for commenting on my Oldie card, you are so kind and thank you too for visiting Amanda's new blog, she is beside herself with excitement at it all. She will be hooked in no time.Anyway, I will be scheduling this post for tomorrow when the Christmas Club goes live. This time around the choice is made by our lovely Mrs. A and it's to feature a Post Box, so here is mine;

All Hunkydory from a couple of years ago and I've decoupaged the lovely image, I have to say I love the blue plaid card in the background, but it's all gone now.That's me for now, time to sit with my feet up and my knitting, I'm going to have a go at a Christmas Bauble in Fair isle. Another thing on my bucket list is to be able to knit with colours, but it's the concentration. Alistair has hinted he would like a jumper....aye right!!Hope you've got your feet up and enjoying your evening, take care of yourselves and see you soon,

Friday, 13 November 2015

Hello from a dim and dismal Inverness, I hope it's a bit brighter where you are. We had sleet this morning and I wouldn't be surprised if there was snow in the hills.Anyway, I'm here a bit later than I'd planned with my Friday Oldie,

A very traditional Christmas card, I think it might be a Docraft's topper, but can't remember.Why not play along with the few of us who share one of our older projects, it doesn't have to be a card, just Handmade. Friday Oldie was started by Erika from SnappyCrafts and you can find her here as a bit of fun to show how our crafting has changed/developed over time, as I say it's just for fun.Now just before I finish up here, I'd love you to check out my friend Amanda's new blog, those of you who regularly follow me will know she is my friend Dale's lovely daughter and she has recently started to make the most wonderful frames, some of which I've shown on here. I suggested she should show here beautiful creations on a blog and she has now managed to start one up, here it ishttp://flutterbiesandheffalumps.blogspot.co.uk/She is very artistic and I would love if you have time to pop into see her and maybe give the Follow Button a click, he only has me at the moment.Thank you all so much for all your lovely comments on my last card, very much appreciated that you all take the time to visit.You all take care of yourselves and I'll be back......soon,

Wednesday, 11 November 2015

Hello Everyone, hoping today sees you all well, but if not then sending out kind thoughts that you will feel better soon.Thank you all so much for the lovely comments on my last card, I know it takes time and I do appreciate your visit to my wee bit of Blogland and your comments.I was at my multi-cultural ladies group today and doing more sewing, this time it's tweed handbag that one of the Jordanian ladies is teaching. This lady is amazing in what she makes and makes it all seem so easy, anyhow I'm enjoying it.Just a short post today, I've spent far too long on the computer and I think it's given me a headache, not to mention that I wanted to do a bit of crafting and never got around to it.

This is a DoCraft's image inked up in Versafine ink, silver ink around the edges and matted on to black card. The paper is from First Edition, some ribbon and black and crystal gems. Very simple, but I thought quite effective. Alternative colours for Christmas.Here is a photo of my contribution to the quilt made by our group for one of the ladies who has just had a baby, never thought but should have taken a photo of the completed quilt;

The whole quilt was quite stunning, you'll have to take my word for that I'm afraid. Took me ages to make this little square.Alistair is out at his music group tonight so I've got control of the TV zapper.Enjoy your own evening and see you soon,

Monday, 9 November 2015

Good Morning....just. Hoping everyone is well and your weather is better than ours. What a day yesterday was with high winds and rain, and through the night it wasn't much better, didn't help with the sleep, so this morning I'm just a tad shattered and feel as if I've gone 10 rounds in a boxing ring. However, just because I can, I'm having a slow day with the dressing gown on, and will get myself together later as it's Choral practise tonight. Mind you, I have a bit of an achey throat which I hope is not going to develop into anything so near the concert. I was so annoyed with myself as I couldn't sing in the last concert in May nor at the Russel Watson concert, so I'm determined to make this one even if I just have to mime, so long as I can stand of course.Anyway, here I am with today's offering, which is make using Chocolate Baroque,s latest AYOS stamp, what do you think??

The Mushroom image has been heat embossed with WOW powders in Gold and coloured with DI.Background is coloured with DI and stamped with the leaves from the Autumn Edges set of stamps from CB, Sentiment from CB McIntosh words set.That's me for now, just before I go though just to say thank you for all the lovely comments on Alistair's birthday card, you are so kind.See you soon, keep well,

Saturday, 7 November 2015

Hello Blogging Buddies, I hope you are all well and having a good weekend. I've been reading that quite a few of you have been to the NEC in Birmingham, but commenting on your mixed reactions to it. Shame when organisers are so greedy.Thank you for your kind wishes for our Anniversary and hubby's birthday you are all so kind.We have had a lovely couple of days, our meal was delicious, I was very careful with what I ate, I always suffer, especially when I eat later in the evening, but the Birthday Boy fairly tucked in. We rounded off the celebrations last night by going to a concert by the Mahler Players, totally brilliant concert with Mahler's Symphony No. 5 being the main piece in the programme. Wonderful piece of music and so well performed. Mahler is Alistair's favourite composer so it was really lucky that this concert was on at this time. So I've got his birthday card to share;

I thought the images were just the sort of his card, I used a DoCraft globe image which has been heat embossed with WOW gold powder, Chocolate Baroque Cogs stamp and Kanban heels and cogs card, some twine and a little clock charm.Well it's almost time for the Scandi Noir drama and as it's all subtitles, I'd better finish off here, cos if you miss any words, you miss what's going on.So I will say Good Night and hope to see you soon, take care everyone,

Wednesday, 4 November 2015

Hello Everyone, I hope all is well with you and that your weather has not broken as ours has, foggy, drizzly and dark today. Not all that cold, just damp.However, out we went for a lovely walk and a bit of lunch to celebrated our 20th Wedding Anniversary, always a bit overshadowed by Alistair's birthday tomorrow, so another celebration as he will be 70 years young. Here is the card I made for him;

This is how I like to think of us, in my dreams!!Here is what we are like for real;

First selfie I've ever taken, don't know if will bother with another one LOL.For my card I used a DoCraft image and papers from their Art Deco pad, gold card and SN Pens.Now spookily, Alistair's card to me is an Art Deco couple too.Our walk took us along Loch Duntelchaig, which is one of the Lochs that give Inverness our beautiful water, the colours of the trees just now are gorgeous, here are photos of both sides of the Loch;

We enjoyed the scenery, but enjoyed even more getting back home and putting the feet up, it really is a day for cosying indoors.Thank you so much for your lovely comments on yesterdays card, It has arrived at Dale's and she is delighted with it, so it will be given to her sister at the weekend when there is a family co for Rachel's birthday, I'm sure she will like it.Thanks too for the help regarding making the boxes, I do use my CC box maker, but you still need to measure so that the card fits into it. So Pam your instructions made sense, thank you, I might managed to make them quicker now.Off now to have a look at your blogs, see you all soon and take care,

Tuesday, 3 November 2015

Good Evening to You All and I hope you are well.Another gorgeous day here in Inverness, we are most certainly having a much better Autumn than we did Summer.I didn't expect to be posting anything today, but my friend Dale got in touch last night with a request for a 70th birthday card for her sister and needs it by Friday, no pressure there then I thought, but a challenge is a challenge, so I'm showing it here so that Dale can see it. I spend most of the day making it and a box so that I could get it off in the post, so she will get it in plenty of time.I had a trawl through Pinterest for some inspiration, and found two cards which I combined, here is the outcome;

I've used a Honey Doo stamp which I bought a wee while ago and never inked up, I found a card on Honey Doo Gallery using this image, and the rocker card is made with SB Dies and this shape was the other card I drew inspiration for, but there was no name, only saying it was pinned from Docrafts.So thanks to the talented crafters for their inspiration.Coloured with SN Pens and Wink of Stella, Centura Pearl card to make the card base, Tattered Lace birthday die and a peel off Sister, finished off with a few gems.The box is made from Centura Card and I've added a big bow. I have to say that the box almost took as long as the card to make, I am just pants at the measuring, so if anybody has a guide of how to measure I would be so grateful for their help. I have a CC box making board, but it's how much to add in order to make the depth, maybe I'm just a bit dense about these things as I could never do arithmetic.My photography doesn't do the colours justice, but I'm pleased with it ans hope that Dale will be and Rachel who is the birthday girl.Thank you all so much for your comments on my last card, very kind as usual.See you soon,

Monday, 2 November 2015

Good Morning Everyone, start of another week and I hope you are all well.It's a gorgeous sunny morning here, Alistair left early to go and walk in the Cairngorms, whilst I'm having an at home day, catching up with some chores and and a bit of knitting.Thank you all so much for the lovely comments on my CCC card, your all very kind.Here is today's card;

I've used CB Lady's Slipper Orchid stamp and coloured with a mixture of DI and SN Aqua Pens,WOS for shimmer.Background stamped with CB Seasonal Fragments, and matted on to a background of watercolour wash with DI. Ribbon and gems to finish off. I did have a lovely large dazzler on the bow, but lost it somewhere between table and camera and didn't notice.Now you might not see so much of the blue shade, but there is a little on the petals of the orchid.I found this particular flower a tad difficult to colour, had to pull up some images of the flower, and they are quite a complicated flower to even look at, although they are stunning.Anyway that's me for today,

Sunday, 1 November 2015

Hello Everyone, how has your day been? good I hope. I've been busy at the crafting table, sometimes you just get on a roll so I took advantage of it and got a few cards made.It's time once again for another card for the Christmas Card Club and this time the choice was from our lovely Mary who wants to see our Christmas Birds. Now Mary herself loves Cardinals, which I think I'm right in saying that they are not seen in the UK, but are certainly found in Mary's neck of the woods in the USA. I had made a card with a Robin which was a previous choice, so I thought what else can I do, then I remembered that I bought a set of stamps designed by John Lockwood of Creative Expressions all about Partridges, here's my card;

I heat embossed all the stamps with WOW Gold Powder, the stamps that are not solid I painted with Metallic Watercolour Paints, the Christmas Palette, matted and layered with red/black and gold card.I am rather pleased with how it's turned out, hope you like it.I'm going to schedule this post for tomorrow, hopefully it will work.Thank you to everyone who commented on my Oldie, as usual you are very kind.Heading off to visit you now, enjoy your evening,